From PROV. iii. 17.. And when he had thus fpoken, he cried with a loud voice, LAZARUS, COME FORTH. And he that was dead came forth bound band and foot with grave-clothes. And his face was bound about with a napkin. Jefus fays to them; Loofe him, and let him go. SERMON I OF THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE AS HELD BY ALL CHRISTIANS. I TIM. i. II. The glorious Gofpel of the blessed God. WE E are all agreed in applying to the religion we profefs the character of it given by St. Paul in these words. It is the glorious Gofpel of the bleed God. It is a heavenly gift, important and interesting in the highest degree. Nothing, therefore, can be more proper than that we should examine it carefully, and endeavour to understand clearly its nature and contents. All our attachment to it without this must be unmeaning and abfurd. My prefent design is to endeavour to give you some assistance in making this examination, by answering in the best manner I can the following enquiries. What is the Gospel? What instruction does it convey? What is the information which renders it a GLORIOUS GOSPEL worthy of the bleffed God? THE word Gospel, as you well know, is derived, both in the English and the Greek languages, from two words which fignify GOOD NEWS. The very title given it, therefore, in my text intimates to us its general nature and defign. It is a communication of good tidings to mankind from the bleffed God. Before I enter upon an account of the particulars of this information, my views in this and fome following discourses require me to obferve to you, that there is a great diversity of opinions among chriftians on this fubject. The different accounts which have been given of the Gospel of Chrift are indeed numberless; and |
